No money for USEC in House-passed transportation bill

Friday

Mar 30, 2012 at 12:01 AMMar 30, 2012 at 12:49 AM

The House last night passed a transportation bill that did not include research and development money for Piketon's American Centrifuge Plant – a disappointment to proponents of the plant who had hoped to see the funding included.

The long battle to secure money for a controversial uranium enrichment plant in southern Ohio continues. The House last night passed a transportation bill that did not include research and development money for Piketon's American Centrifuge Plant – a disappointment to proponents of the plant who had hoped to see the funding included. They had reason to be hopeful: The Senate earlier this year passed a version of that bill that included $150 million for research and development for the plant, which would be operated by Maryland-based USEC. Following the House vote late Thursday, Sen. Sherrod Brown sent out a statement expressing his disappointment that the House didn't replicate the Senate by including the money. Brown, D-Ohio,said the plant "is critical to southern Ohio's economy and for our nation's security." "The House kicked the can down the road instead of taking up a bipartisan bill that will save and create of jobs in Southern Ohio," he said. The $150 million is a small portion of what USEC says it would need to fully launch the plant. They applied more than three years ago for a $2 billion loan guarantee, but have yet to see that materialize. In the meantime, they've repeatedly extended deadlines with key investors in hopes of receiving the federal support they say they need to commercialize their technology.